6-7 August 2025
8:30–15:00
Beirut time
Workshop

Launch of the 2nd edition of the Arab Mayors Academy

Location
  • UN-House, Beirut, Lebanon
Contact information
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Following the success of its first edition, ESCWA and UN-Habitat proudly present the second round of the Arab Mayors Academy—a regional initiative empowering city leaders to drive sustainable urban change. 

The Academy brings together a new cohort of urban leaders from across the Arab region. Through interactive workshops, thematic learning modules, and peer-to-peer exchange, it fosters a dynamic environment for innovation and collaboration on sustainable urban development. 

The programme starts with a high-level launch event in Beirut, followed by a series of in-person and virtual capacity-building and knowledge sharing activities.

Outcome document

ESCWA and UN-Habitat co-organized the launch of the 2nd Edition of the Arab Mayors Academy at the UN House in Beirut, with the participation of governors, mayors and senior municipal leaders from across the Arab region. The discussions underscored that SDG localization is a transformative pathway for building inclusive, resilient and people-centred cities, and highlighted the importance of institutionalizing localization through governance, financing and participatory mechanisms. Voluntary Local Reviews  were recognized as a key instrument for evidence-based policymaking and for positioning Arab cities globally. The launch also connected localization to the Quality of Life framework and to resilience in crisis recovery and reconstruction, stressing the need for context-sensitive approaches backed by reliable data and citizen engagement. Alumni testimonies reaffirmed the Academy’s impact on municipal leadership and innovation. The programme continued through a series of thematic webinars and online courses until November 2025, culminating in a final training event on ‘Strategic Planning, Results-Based Management, and Partnerships for Sustainable Impact’ at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Doha, Qatar, followed by a graduation ceremony and certificate distribution at the Arab Ministerial Forum for Housing and Urban Development in December. 

  • Participants exchanged experiences on integrating SDGs at the municipal level: Amman presented the role of its urban observatory and data systems; Ramallah highlighted participatory approaches in planning; Mafra shared its model of linking municipal finance with SDG priorities.
  • The Practical Guidelines for Developing Voluntary Local Reviews in the Arab Region were introduced and discussed as a hands-on tool for local governments.
  • Alumni from the first edition reflected on lessons learned, noting the Academy’s contribution to strengthening local leadership, improving governance practices, and developing new city initiatives.
  • The Global Quality of Life Initiative was presented with examples from Amman and Madinah, prompting discussion on how quality-of-life metrics can guide investments and policy choices.
  • A session on resilience featured case studies, including Beirut’s post-blast recovery, sparking debate on equitable reconstruction, community participation, and inclusive governance in crisis contexts.
  • Peer learning and regional cooperation were identified as critical dimensions of the Academy, with participants stressing the importance of city diplomacy and inter-city exchange.

Initiatives: Sustainable urban development

Documents

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